Abstract: According to the WHO report, there are more than 2 billion people around the world have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the past or present serological evidence, of which 350 million are chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers. The earlier infection, the more likely to be a chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier. The main reason of chronic HBV infection in China is a through maternal-neonatal transmission, including vertical transmission (intrauterine transmission, intrapartum transmission and breastfeeding) and daily contact. Due to the use of hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin, perinatal transmission rate decreases from 90% to 10%, although accepted immunoprophylaxis, there are still 10%-15% of babies become chronic HBV infection through mother to child transmission development. Therefore it is particularly important to PMTCT. Lamivudine has been considered to be the effective drug for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in pregnancy and is classified as pregnancy category C. More and more studies show that the start of antiviral therapy in late pregnancy to reduce maternal-neonatal transmission is effective and does not affect fetal development. This paper reviews on the use of lamivudine in pregnant women with chronic HBV infection.

Key words: Lamivudine, Hepatitis B virus, Pregnant women